The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 389

XXIX. Conversion of All That Come. " Turn

Thou me and

—Jer. xxxi.

The

elect,

I shall

be turned."

i8.

born again and effectually called, converts himself. is impossible but he inclines his ear, he

To remain unconverted

;

turns his face to the blessed God, he

is

converted in the fullest

sense of the word. In conversion the fact of cooperation on the part of the saved sinner assumes a clearly defined and perceptible character.

generation there was none of

it;

in conversion

regenerates a

He

man,

proper

it is

an

;

it

"

In re-

was a beginning When the Holy Spirit

in the calling there

became a fact.

Effatha,"

He

i.e..

He

opens the

speaks into that opened

ear.

When

which cooperates by receiving the sound, that is, by barkening. But when the Holy Spirit actually converts the man, then the act of man coalesces with the act of the Holy Spirit, and it is said: " Let the wicked forsake his way, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him "; and in another place " The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." It is a remarkable fact that the Sacred Scripture refers to con\Qrs\ona.\mosi one hundred and forty times SLshQmg an act of man, and only six times as an act of the Holy Ghost. It is repeated again and again "Repent and turn to the Lord your God"; "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord" (Jer. iii. 22); "Sinners shall return unto Thee" (Psalm li. 13, Dutch Version); "Repent and do thy first works" (Rev. ii. 5). But conversion as an act of the Holy Spirit is spoken of only in Psalm xix. 8, " The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul" in Jer. xxxi. 18, "Turn Thou me and I shall be turned"; in Acts xi. 18. "That God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life " Rom. ii. 4, " That the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance"; in 2 Tim. ii. 25, " If God peradventure will ^/zr them repentance"; in Heb. vi. 6, " That it is impossible to renew such (as fall away) to repentance." effectually calls him.

:

:

;

;

ear,

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